Australian blues virtuoso Geoff Achisons current US tour will likely be remembered for both its collaborations and its covers. In early May, Achison shared a bill with King Johnsons Oliver Wood at Decatur, GAs Eddies Attic and Lake Worth, FLs Bamboo Room. At both shows, the duo performed two sets together and swapped songs like Achisons ‘Tell Me Something I Don’t Know’ and ‘Jungle,’ as well as Albert Kings ‘If The Washing Don’t Get You, The Rinsing Will,’ Taj Mahals Chevrolet, The Allman Brothers Bands Midnight Rider and Gus Cannons Stealin.

Last Friday Achison also participated in Hammonton, NJs Camp Jam where he was joined onstage by Atlanta acoustic music icon, Caroline Aiken. A clear sign of his growing US popularity, the Camp Jam crowed extended Achisons set close an hour past its scheduled conclusion with its uproarious ovations. A day later, during a performance at Long Island, NYs Paula Jeans, he was also joined by Michael Falzarano. Falzarano is slated to join Achison three more times, including a May 27 performance with the American version of Achisons band, The Souldiggers, at the Mayfair Festival for the Arts in Allentown, PA.

I’m very glad to get a chance to play in America again, Achison says. I have been influenced heavily by the music that originated from your part of the world – blues, rock, jazz, funk and jam, all come from the American south. So it’s a bit daunting to play my take on these sounds there in it’s natural habitat. But the audiences in the U.S. are great and the energy is quite different from England or Australia. It’s always been fun.
Tonight Geoff will share the stage with Memphis Mike and The Tremblers at Thunderbirds in Lawrenceville, PA. Achisons month-long US visit will conclude in Charleston, SC on May 31. Report by Rob Turner